– Nov 4 -8, The 8th Annual 2015 Charleston International Film Festival (CIFF): Follow the Updates here –> follow the leaders, the jet set, the movie set, VIPs, actors, filmmakers, writers, executive producers, the angels, the audience…all of us film lovers. We’ll show you how to love it, how to do it, to jump on it, to make it. Make the connection, make the film, share the story, and share the dream! Bring a friend, a lover, and/or meet new film lovers at the interactive workshops, Q&A sessions, VIP lounges, After-Parties, Awards Finale. Come watch CIFF films at the Charleston Music Hall, sit in your seats, quiet on the set…then action, and dance for joy. Do it, DoTheCharleston <– Like it, Comment, and Share it –> for HiArtFilms, for the 2015 CIFF, for the world, for ever!

1. Tell us about your character Elsa.
2. Is this a children’s film?
3. When/where did you film (any behind the scenes trivia)?
4. If you could work in films, besides acting, what would you do?
5. How do you like Charleston?
6. What was director/writer Tannaz Hazemi like?

– 9pm: “One Second Changes Everything” PREVIEW Interview at CIFF VIP Lounge with NY actress/producer Rüya Koman: “It’s weird (ha ha) how powerful this improv film became. It’s serious domestic violence (inspired by Nicholas Kristof piece in NY Times), so you’ll see what I mean. Our acting class came together and shot the film in real time style. It was a spontaneous, supportive, encouraging, and creative shoot. Ha ha, most productions are not loose, but we wanted to improv on purpose. We have several other films at Film Festivals around the world, but Charleston and the CIFF International Film Fest is the special one we’re excited to come to, and we’ve heard so much about Charleston! Join us, have some popcorn!”

– 5pm: One of the Feature Films in the 5pm Block, “Girl On The Edge,” see trailer:

– 7pm: FREE! Indie Grants Films and Q&A about works-in-progress joint program between Charleston’s Trident Technical College and the South Carolina Film Commission http://www.vimeo.com/87041932

– 8pm: “Luscious Lips Inspires Ladybug Tips” PREVIEW: This eye opening short film was inspired by actress (and recovered scientist), Jane May Graves, and her Vegan Lip Balm that connects the dots, sustaining nature, and sustaining our health. Their motto:“It all starts with … One Choice, One Step, One Change.” <– Let’s do it, come see the film with their Charleston Producer, Drea Bauer.

– After Party at Victor Social Club:

After Party at Victor Social Club: filmmakers and fans of “Seth” and “The Parker Tribe”

– Nov 8 Sun: Movie Blocks, VIP Lounge, and Awards Finale! Join CIFF’s VIP patrons & filmmakers at the Awards Gala; walk the elegant red carpet at the cocktail reception: wine & dine & dance to live music…and DoTheCharleston…we call it HiArtCuisine with catering by Tristan Events. Also enjoy a comedy show by Jeremy Mclellan and a ceremony to honor 40yr Mayor of Charleston, Joe Riley. See you tonite, tell us who you picked to win (and also on Facebook). We voted 5 stars for “Before The Bomb, Texting: A Love Story, and Seth.” We voted 2nd place for “Shevenge, The Detectives of Noir Town, Shitbird, The Parker Tribe, The Answers, Fixed, Breath Bitch!, Pardon The Intrusion, En Las Nubes (In The Clouds).” Special Mention goes to “Luscious Lips Inspires Ladybug Tips, and One Second Changes Everything.” We overheard 2 theatre experts say “Wildlike” was really great.

– 2014 Charleston International Film Festival – Flash Back 2014 <– Full REVIEW (Excerpt: “… Documentary Filmmakers…Social Entrepreneurs…a Grand scale…flickering beams of fire…dark shadows…damsels in distress hung suspended in the light of the moon…best part of CIFF so far? The Q&A…”nailing the design…the collaboration was bonding.” …textured…crisp yet soothing color spectrums. Lighting hues, camera swoops …a 5-star lush story-book musical peek (no words)…apropos…cute cute yoga…back-woods daddy…the epitome of out of the box…the international language…See the film? $10. See the whole block (included in the $10). Film steals the genre? More than 5-star…priceless…”

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– 2013 Charleston International Film Festival – Flash Back 2013 <– Full REVIEW (Excerpt: “Around the world in 5 days…magnetic…illuminating …never dream of – so foreign…penetrating…blow away any preconception…out of sight…hovering…a parallel universe…transported you…surreal…unbelievable…where there’s a world there’s a way…on top of the world…with cameo video salutes from Steven Spielberg and Francis Ford Coppola…lofty silver screen…down to earth…Q&A, workshops, after-parties, awards, and even on our sailboat. Holy Producers, Bat Man…Charleston is on a world stage…the rage around the world for years, and the world never stops turning…CIFF offers more than just Film…the underworld…shined like a star…”

– Jan 15 – Feb 8 at 8pm (Sun 3pm), “Don’t Cry For Me, Margaret Mitchell,” by Charlotte writers V. Cate and Duke Ernsberger. REVIEW: Run (don’t fumble or pass) downtown to Threshold Theatre to score the last tickets. This live play acts out the real life of writers & producers. It’s a business, but it’s nuts, it’s bananas, and it’s the game of life. They pop pills, pop blood vessels, dare to dunk donuts, then fall asleep on the job. The fast action dives into the huddle of the play-by-play, minute-by-minute, last minute, come-from-behind, behind the screens, writing of the screenplay for the sliver screen’s “Gone With The Wind.” Margaret Mitchell’s book is played-out by the formidable actor Brendan Kelly along side fun actors Jay Danner, Nat Jones, and Sarah Coe. While portraying Scarlett and Mammy, the teammates go in the trenches, block & tackle, tie up, cut loose, and make up plays off-the-cuff. Cufflink and costume designer, Kristen Bushey, shows-off her jazzy flair. Mike Kordek brings in his multitalented leadership and set design. Versatile veteran, Robin Burke, directs and coaches another winner to standing ovations. Jan 23 – Feb14 at 7:30pm (some 3pm), Pure Theatre’s “Glengarry Glen Ross,” the Pulitzer Prize drama by David Mamet, is about a real estate sales force scamming for sales leads to close the deal, to win the Cadillac, to keep their jobs, and to save their lives. REVIEW: This is must-see acting for the purest of enthusiasts. You’ll walk away wanting more from Pure’s core ensemble and director Erin Wilson. It’s hard to steal the show with so many star performances – even the actors with fewer lines focused and filled out the frame with their powerful posturing. Pure Theatre gets you close-up to the penetrating actors with their deep, cutting, razor sharp dialogue that slashes back and forth. Fighting to win and desperate to survive at all costs, the scary acting is so true, it makes the story line too real-world. I was squirming, “get me out of this kind of world,” and then, “get me more of this kind of theatre.” (Note, join us below at Pure Theatre’s FUNdraiser on Feb 8, “The Pure Experience”) – Jan 29 from 6 – 9:30pm, “Dare to Dream” Gala Dance Scholarship Benefit for the Community Education Foundation of the Charleston Dance Institute. Dinner, Silent Auction, plus “a Bob Fosse inspired Charleston Broadway Dance Ensemble performance of “Gotta Dance!” At the Woolfe Street Playhouse.

– Feb 7 from 10am – 3pm, Charleston STEM Festival is a high profile engaging celebration of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) for K-12 students and their families, teachers, and leaders. It will “feature ~50 exhibitors who will provide hands-on activities, live performances, interactive demonstrations, and entertainment.” It is outdoors at Brittlebank Park downtown. Remember to go ask for more STEAM (adding A for Arts). STEAM powers more creativity!

– Feb 8 from 3 – 6:30pm, “The Pure Experience” FUNdraisier pARTy for a purpose for Pure Theatre on King St. Wine & Dine with catering from Oak, Indaco, O-ku, and special chef, Macintosh’s Jeremiah Bacon (James Beard nominee). See David Boatwright’s band Minimum Wage; a cabaret show by Laura Ball & Friends; a short play by PURE’s Playwright in Residence, David Lee Nelson; and join in Scene Karaoke with PURE’ actors. The Live Auction includes a role in PURE’s play “Marie Antoinette.” (Note above, our REVIEW of their play “Glengarry Glen Ross” running thru Feb 14)

– Feb 13 – 15, The Southeastern Wildlife Exposition (SEWE) is the largest pARTy for a purpose of it’s kind in the US. About 40,000 nature loving pARTy animals will come to Charleston to be immersed in nature & wildlife preservation, fine art, conservation education, sporting demos, wining & dining, and more. Come see 500 international artists, exhibitors, and wildlife professionals; enjoy the edutainment; and learn more to protect nature for us, our kids, and our kids’ kids.

– Feb 19 – 28 at 7:30pm, “Thrill Me: The Leopold and Loeb Story” by What If Productions is a musical, but expect the unexpected at Threshold Theatre. Directed by Charleston’s groundbreaking Kyle Barnette (search our great past REVIEWs!), this famous true story is about “thrill killers” in the Roaring 20s who dare to “lure a young boy to his death just to prove they could get away with it…But was it so careless?” Drama Desk nominee for Best Musical and Best Score. REVIEW: Wow, what an ending, what a set up! The stage was set with cold shades of gray: cold lovers, murdering in cold blood, with cold coal eyes, cold ghostly skin, and cold comic relief. The eeriness was chilling while subversively warm, too. Warm vocal chords and warm piano chords floated the memories of the manipulated melodrama. The musical had a melancholy melody that never missed a beat (praise to pianist, Kevin Thorn). The sultry singers fueled the flames of fire & brimstone and singed the passions of desire & deceit. The dirty devils (starring Brian Porter & Brannen Daugherty) raised hell as hot shots wielding cold crow bars and cold prison bars. (The bar was raised high again by challenging director Kyle Barnette and the crew of What If? Productions). The Nietzche supermen flew high with their hot heads in the clouds and their cold noses in the air, then crashed & burned through the dust & death down in a drainpipe ditch. As it dripped back in time, behind the crime scenes, behind the headlines, and behind the veils of the master minds…the cold love story unfolded…what a hot ending.Get Tickets (hurry, limited discount code “CHICAGO”)